Rylan Jackson (BA '26) AI IS THE DEATH OF MEDIOCRITY AND THE LIFEBLOOD OF EXCELLENCE Imagine that I just cleared my throat. Those guttural sounds of clogged up mucus being shredded away, like that of a garbage disposal. Alright. Image completed? Then strap yourselves in and clench your toes: we’re talking about the dreaded topic … Continue reading Undergrad Student Spotlight: Rylan Jackson
Catherine Torkelson (BA '24) As I approached the final stretch of my undergraduate degree, a certain question started looming, one I had been pointedly avoiding: what next? There are so many possible destinations for an English major—technical writing, screen writing, magazine editing, library sciences, law school, and so much more—but I didn’t know which one … Continue reading Undergrad Student Spotlight: Catherine Torkelson
Traci Brimhall poses with her contribution to the collection of poems "Poetry Harvest: Poems for the Kansas State Fair" (2024) Each month during the academic year, we assemble a newsletter of the department's recent publications, presentations, announcements, and awards. We're happy to recognize the recent successes in research, scholarship, and creative activity outlined below. Want … Continue reading September 2024 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity
Nichole Maryse Harris (BA '25) (photo by Sophie Osborn) Telling people my major in college has become a repetitive process. There’s a moment where they ask me, innocently and habitually curious, and there’s a half-second where I debate whether or not I should lie. Sometimes, depending on the person, I do. Old people at work, … Continue reading Undergrad Student Spotlight: Nichole Maryse Harris
ENGL 287 "Great Books" (Spring 2024) The Spring ‘24 in-person section of English 287 “Great Books” asked the question, “What Makes a Great Book?” We read novels, a short story, a graphic memoir, and a collection of poetry, and students wrote final papers addressed to a specific audience that explained what made one of those … Continue reading What Makes a Great Book? Answers in Infographic Arguments
Banned Books Week 2024 (Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association) As I feel the nostalgic and contemplative air of Fall take affect on me, I reach for my well-loved copy of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Vuong’s introspective and evocative prose transcends me into a world of understanding oneself through the … Continue reading Recognizing Banned Books Week 2024 at K-State
Cover for Anne Longmuir's John Ruskin and the Victorian Woman Writer (Routledge, 2025) Each month during the academic year, we assemble a newsletter of the department's recent publications, presentations, announcements, and awards. The issue for September showcases a greater range of research, scholarship, and creative activity that our faculty and students have shared beyond Kansas … Continue reading Summer 2024 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity
Riley Brokeshoulder (BA '25) Through the McNair Scholars Program I was able to participate in the eight-week summer research internship and craft a collection of flash nonfiction essays, with the help of my mentor Dr. Traci Brimhall. For this project, I knew I wanted to center the essays around grief and to conduct research by … Continue reading Undergrad Student Spotlight: Riley Brokeshoulder
Today’s blog brings you two examples of creative work that mesh the visual and theoretical in compelling ways. These two pieces — a documentary film/personal research reflection filmed and edited by Elizabeth Elliott (MA ‘25) related to the Kansas Land Treaties project and a glossary/zine/theory/creative writing hybrid collaboratively created by Aidia Kite (BA '24) and … Continue reading Projects from ENGL 745 “Indigenous Film”
Emmett Spaw (BA '26) My name is Emmett Spaw. Fun fact: I’m the guy in the photo. Yes, the one staring blankly into the camera all professional-like. Here’s a second fun fact: I’m an English major. Fun fact number three: I made the second fun fact up. That’s right, I just behaved in an intentionally … Continue reading Undergrad Student Spotlight: Emmett Spaw
K-State English 